Electrical receptacle



July 20,1926 1,593,534

I A. L. KUHLMAN ELECTRI CAL REC EPTACLE Filed Feb. 8. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet i INVENTOR 'Patented July 20, 1926.

1,5935% ATENT mace.

ARTHUR L. KUHLMAN, or BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRICAL RECEPTAGLE.

Application filed February-8, 1923. Serial No. 617,676.

- 'This inventionre'lates to electrical receptacles and the like." I The primeobject of-the invention is to design an instantaneous connect and disconnect electrical receptacle, so that all forms of attachments or fittings, such as.

' used on percolators, irons, lamps, and other I electrical equipment willfit 'thereinto, and

"eliminate the necessity of the various forms and designs offittings and attachments at Present in general use. r I

. Another object of the invention is'to design a simple, durable and "efficient receptacle composed of few parts, which are economical to manufacture and easy to assemble.

A further'obje'ct isto provide a spring actuated automatic locking receptacle, which firmly grips and locks the plug or other'fitting in place, but which will however allow'it to spring free and prevent breakage in case ofaccident. v

A still further object is to provide suitable releasing means so that the plug or other attachment can be inserted or released without rotation thereof.

A further object still is to provide a receptacle into which a plug or fitting can be plugged or removed by a straight in-push or pull, but which can also be rotatedif de-' sired to secure better adjustment with the center contact.

With thejabove and other objects in view,

the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully, described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyfof the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings V Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved receptacle, the locking means being shown in two difierent positions, the dotted lines in-- dicatingthe position of the locking members when a fitting isv in position therein, and the full lines showing their position when .the fitting is withdrawn.

Fig. 2 is an opposite side view thereof.

F ig. 3 is a top plan view of the receptacle proper.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the locking members.

Fig 5 is a similar view of theotherlock ing member. r Fig. 6 is an isometric view of one of the base plates. r

Fig. 7 springs. v

Fig. 8 is a side view of the receptacle as used in a wall or baseboard."

Fig. 9 is a front View thereof.

Fig. 10 shows an alternate form of construction.

Referring now particularly to' the draw ings in which I have shown the: preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral. 1

indicates a porcelainbase to which the re is an isometricview of one of the ceptacle proper is attached, spaced apart base plates 2 are secured to the face of this base by means of screws 3 and-these screws form terminals for the wire connections 4: and 5 in the usualmanner. Standards G are formed integral with these plates 2 and are provided with suitable openings 7 therein, adapted "to receive the laterally extending lugs 8 which are formed on thelegs 9 of the locking members 9. These members 9 form the locking portion of the receptacle, and comprise a thin circular metal member formed with screw threaded surfaces which are adapted to mesh with and engage the threaded surface of the attachment, plug or fitting such as are found on the conventional incandescent light socket. It will also be noted that the ends of the threads are slightly flatted, this is to allow the fitting to be easily inserted and prevent its hanging and catching, and it will be found that the coarseness and roll of the thread facilitates the easy inserting of the attachment or fitting.

I wish to direct particular attention to the fact that both locking members are formed identically alike, excepting that the legs on the one member are offset as shown at 10, and are so spaced that when in as sembled position, the legs on the opposite locking member engage therewith and are adapted to ride on this offset portion.

These locking members are held in posi tion by means of fiat spring members 11 which are adapted to be interposed between the standards 6, and these springs are formed with slots 12 in the ends thereof, which are adapted to straddle the standards 6, and in practice are rounded so that when the receptacle is assembled they will exert a continuous upward pressure against the legs Cir when the button is forced inwardly to position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the

'lugs8 formed 011 the loolzing member'will rock in the openings 7, the one pair-of-legs 9 resti-nglton' the oitset portion 10- of the other locking member will force bot-h threaded sections outwardl r to position as-shown in dotted lines in t e same figure,'flexing the spring member 11 and releasing theplug attachmentof fitting, a stop 10 can be providedior limitingthe inward movement of'the members and when thebuttonis released, the spring will again-torcethe sectionstoward each other.

The contact 16 is of the conventional type, and it will be obvious that when the fitting is inserted in the receptacle, that it can also be rotated if desired'and thereby force it further into the receptacle to secure a better contact ifnecessary.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown the receptacle in the position it would occupy in a baseboard, in this construction the button 15 extends through an ordinary base plate 17 and engages the lug 13 which in this instance is secured to the upper end or" the 1eg9= the actiono'f the mechanism is however identically the same although a greater leverage is obtained.

In Fig.10I have shown an alternate form of construction, one ofthe locking members being stationary, the opposite locking member being pivoted to the plate 2 in the usual manner,-the push-button 15 is pro- Vided with a longer shank and is pivotally connectedto the legs atthe point 18, this construction also provides sufiicient move ment to allow the fitting to be readily inserted and removed.

The action of these locking members is si'milantothe action of a pair of scissors exceptingthat the members are not pivotally connected together, the action of the one locking member being automatically communicated to the other.

Fronithe foregoing description it will be obvious that I have perfected a yer simple and economical instantaneous electrical connect and disconnect receptacle.

1. An electrical receptacle including a base, a'pair of cooperating Iockingmcmbers pivotal-1y secured thereto and comprising a pair of legs having a screw threaded arcuate metal section'secured to the free end thereof, a shoulder formed on one pair of legslor engagementby the-opposite locking member, resilient means interposed between the base and the locking members,anda push-button connected to'one of the metal sections for forcingthe locking members apart. I

2. An electrical receptacle includin a base, a pair of cooperatinglockingmem Jerspivotally secured thereto, one of said members having anofi'set'leg portion on which the opposite member fis adapted to ride, a spring interposed between thebase and the locking members tending "to normally force them towards each"other','a stop for lii'niting the movement thereof, anda push-button connection-for forcingsaid members apart.

In testimony'whereof I 'aflix my signature.

' ARTHURL. KUHLMAN. 

